responsible
//ɹɪˈspɒn.sə.bəl//
Forms
- Comparative
- more responsible
- Superlative
- most responsible
- Plural
- responsibles
Definitions
1.Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically.
- Parents are responsible for their child's behaviour.
2.Being a primary cause of a situation or action and thus able to be blamed or credited for it.
- Who is responsible for this mess?
3.Answerable to (a superior).
- Tom is responsible for this.
4.Involving important duties; involving a degree of personal accountability on the part of the person concerned.
- She has a responsible position in the firm.
1.An actor taking on the lesser roles in repertory theatre.
- 'Well, the Cardinal is the heavy part, isn't it?' 'I know.' 'Then,' said I, 'you'd better go'; and one of the Responsibles took it on, and was perfect on the night.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1425
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle French responsable, from Old French responsable, responsible, formed from the root of Latin responsus, from respondeō, respondēre.
The spelling of the English word is taken from the Old French variant responsible.
By surface analysis, response + -ible.